Keir Starmer has condemned a “disgusting rise" in anti-Semitism since the Hamas attack alongside an “appalling surge" in Islamophobia.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, the Labour leader said heightened incidents of hate crimes had left Jewish families “hiding who they are", while mosques have been forced to step up security.
The Met said it has recorded a “massive increase” in suspected anti-Semitic offences in the capital since Hamas’s October 7 attack, which has included the vandalism of a Jewish school in Stamford Hill with red paint.
“Since Hamas’s terrorist attack, our country has seen a disgusting rise in antisemitism,” said Sir Keir.
“Jewish businesses attacked, Jewish schools marked with red paint and Jewish families hiding who they are.
“And we have seen an appalling surge in Islamophobia. Mosques forced to ramp up security, British Muslims and Palestinians spoken to as if they are terrorists.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the surge of hate incidents as “utterly sickening” and said the Government would do what it takes to combat it.
Responding to a question by former Cabinet Minister Sajid Javid, who suggested that visas of foreign perpetrators of hate crimes should be revoked, Mr Sunak said: “This government will do whatever it takes to keep our Jewish community safe.
“That is why we have provided an additional £3 million of funding to support the Community Security Trust and we are working with the police to ensure hate crime and glorification of terror is met with the full force of the law.
“Under our existing immigration rules, we have the power to cancel a person’s presence in the UK if it’s not conducive to the public good.”
Incidents of anti-Jewish hate have increased by 581% since Hamas’s attack on Israel, according to Jewish security group, Community Security Trust.
The group said it had recorded 320 antisemitic incidents between October 7 and 16, a sevenfold increase on the 47 antisemitic incidents recorded over the same period last year.
Meanwhile, Tell Mama UK, which monitors anti-Muslim hate, reported a tripling of anti-Muslim cases being recorded since hostilities began.
It comes as police continue to probe vandalism icnidents on two Jewish schools in north London, which are suspected hate crimes.
In the first incident, shortly before 7am on Thursday, a vandal threw red paint across the entrance to a school in Lordship Road, Stoke Newington.
In the second identical incident, red paint was thrown over the Beis Chinuch Lebonos Girls’ School in Woodberry Down Road, Finsbury Park, on Monday.
